Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Carter’

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CARTER’ characterized by its large sized blooms with pink ray-florets and no disc florets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘CARTER’ is a product of a breeding-program which had the objective ofcreating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a decorative type flower, a 7week response and a medium plant height. The new plant of the presentinvention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant‘CARTER’ is a seedling from a cross in a breeding program maintainedunder the control of inventor. The female parent is #93.601-unpatented-,an unnamed seedling not available to inventor for description. The maleparent is unknown, being a mixed pollation of a group of male parents.The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross by Rob Noodelijk in acontrolled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland in May1998.The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘CARTER’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in August1998 in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemumbearing large sized double blooms with pink ray-florets and no discflorets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum isshown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true aspossible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3. shows the various stages of foliage and petiole of the newcultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classificationDendranthema grandiflora. The observations and measurements weregathered from 63-day plants grown in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout Hollandin a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used incommercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop wereat day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. Thephoto-periodic response time in this crop was 55 days after an averageof eight long days. After this long day period to flowering growthretardants were applied 6 times in an average dose of 1.5 gram/literwater. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of thiscrop. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance ofsusceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. Thisnew variety produces large sized blooms with pink ray-florets and nodisc-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety ofchrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthroughout successive propagations however the phenotype may varysignificantly with variations in environment such as light intensity andtemperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘CARTER’ can be plantedwithout assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in Holland.With assimilation lightning (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be plantedyear round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known in inventor the most similar existing cultivarin comparison to ‘CARTER’ is ‘DARK CHARM’ (p.p. 7585). When ‘DARK CHARM’(p.p. 7585) and ‘CARTER’ are being compared the following differencesare noticed: The differences of ‘DARK CHARM’ (p.p. 7585) and ‘CARTER’are the flower shape. The ray-florets of ‘CARTER’ are less reflexingthan the ray-florets of ‘DARK CHARM’ (p.p. 7585). The ray-florets of‘CARTER’ are not so pointed as the ray-florets of ‘DARK CHARM’ (p.p.7585). The vigor of the plant. The plant of ‘CARTER’ is more compactthan ‘DARK CHARM’ (p.p. 7585).

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics thatdistinguish ‘CARTER’ as a new and distinct variety.

The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, anydiscrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted inthe photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart usedin this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,edition 1995.

Botanical Description of CULTIVAR ‘CARTER’

Bud:

Size.—Medium;cross-section 1.1 cm, height 1.0 cm.

Outside color.—Purple 75 A.

Involucral bracts.—2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm.

Involucral bracts among disc-florets.—Not present.

Involucral bracts color.—Yellow-green 146 A.

Bloom:

Type.—Decorative.

Height.—Medium.

Size.—Large.

Fully expanded.—7.0-7.5 cm.

Number of blooms per branch.—Approx. 4 blooms per branch.

Performance on the plant.—5 weeks.

Seeds.—Not produced.

Fragrance.—Typical chrysanthemum.

Color:

Color of upper surface of the ray-florets.—Red-purple 74 C.

Color of the lower surface of the majority of the ray-florets.—Purple 75A.

Tonality from distance.—A pot mum with large double pink flowers.

Discoloration to color.—To purple 75 A.

Ray florets:

Texture.—Upper and under side smooth.

Number.—80-85 (outer 4 rows excluding the tight center).

Cross-section.—Flat.

Longitudinal axis of majority.—Reflexing.

Length of corolla tube.—Medium.

Ray-floret margin.—Entire.

Ray-floret length.—3.5-3.8 cm.

Ray-floret width.—0.6-0.9 cm.

Ratio length/width.—High.

Shape of tip.—Round.

Fragrance.—Typical chrysanthemum.

Disc florets.—None.

Receptacle shape.—Domed raised.

Reproductive organs:

Stamen (present in disc florets only).—Not present.

Pollen.—Not present.

Pollen color.—Not applicable.

Styles.—Thin.

Style color.—Green 143 C.

Style length.—5 mm.

Stigmas.—Green 143 C.

Stigma width.—1 mm.

Ovaries.—Enclosed in calyx.

Plant:

Type.—A pot mum meant for indoor use.

Growth habit.—Spreading.

Growth rate.—Moderate.

Height.—24-26 cm.

Width.—25-27 cm.

Quantity (number per lateral branch).—5-7.

Shape.—Ovate.

Texture upper side.—Glabrous.

Texture under side.—Pubescent.

Venation arrangement.—Palmate.

Shape of the margin.—Serrated.

Shape of base of sinus between lateral lobes.—Acute.

Margin of sinus between lateral lobes.—Diverging.

Shape of base.—Asymmetric.

Apex.—Cuspidate.

Differences with the comparison varieties ‘CARTER’ ‘DARK CHARM’Ray-floret shape of tip Round Pointed Vigor Moderate More vigorous

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant asdescribed and illustrated.